Melaloncha ancistra, Gonzalez, Lisa & Brown, Brian V., 2004

Gonzalez, Lisa & Brown, Brian V., 2004, New species and records of Melaloncha (Udamochiras) bee­killing flies (Diptera: Phoridae), Zootaxa 730, pp. 1-14 : 8-9

Melaloncha ancistra new species

Figs. 4 , 11

Recognition. This species is extremely distinctive, with the pair of lateral hooklike projections positioned at the abrupt ventral curve of the ovipositor, the relatively long dorsal interfrontal setae, and the enlarged ventral setae on the fore­, mid­, and hind femora. In Brown (2004a) it keys to couplet 9, which separates M. deinocerca Borgmeier , with three posterior projections on the ovipositor, from the other species where there is a single posterior projection; M. ancistra , if considered to have three posterior projections, differs from M. deinocerca by the shorter, narrower, hooklike lateral projections and the ventrally curved ovipositor.

Description. Female (male unknown). Body length 3.4 mm. Frontal width 0.32 head width. Frons completely black; punctate with small black setulae, slightly shiny; median furrow present. Dorsal interfrontal setae present, long, located slightly ventral to ventral ocellus. Palpus with several long, black setae. Ocular and genal setae flattened, brown. Foreleg yellowish brown; foretarsomeres slightly darker, slightly broadened. Combined length of foretarsomeres 0.83 tibial length. Tarsal claws on all legs finely bifurcate. Mid­ and hind leg brownish yellow; hind femur with dark brown macula at apex. Ventral setae on mid­ and hind femora conspicuously enlarged. Costa 0.57 wing length. Vein R2+3 absent. Abdominal tergites black, with anterior band of silver pollinosity. Venter of abdomen gray; venter of segment 6 with few setae. Ovipositor in lateral view tubular in shape with strong apical curvature. Numerous dorsal and ventral setae present, with ventral setae longer and thicker. Lateral hook­like projections present near abrupt ventral curve of ovipositor. Ovipositor deepens abruptly at apex following abrupt ventral curve. In dorsal view, numerous long setae visible throughout length of ovipositor; ovipositor gradually narrows to down­turned apex.

Host. Unknown.

Distribution. Colombia.

Derivation of specific epithet. Greek ankistron, for fishhook, referring to the hooklike processes on the ovipositor.

Holotype. Ψ, COLOMBIA: Boyacá: SFF Iguaque, Cabaña Chaina, 5.42°N, 73.45ºW, 30.iv.–17.v.2001, P. Reina, Malaise trap, 2600 m, CAP­1753. [LACM ENT 053102] (UNCB).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 9. Melaloncha (Udamochiras) spp. Ovipositors, dorsal.

FIGURES 10 – 16. Melaloncha (Udamochiras) spp. Ovipositors, right lateral.